Breeds / Giant
Boerboel puppies
A South African farm mastiff, confident, territorial and calm with its own household. It is intolerant of strange dogs, and it needs experienced handling with socialisation from puppyhood.
The facts
- Size class Giant
- Country of origin South Africa
- Adult weight 68 to 90.7 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 150 to 200 lb
- Adult height 56 to 69 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Short smooth
- Typical lifespan 9 to 11 years
- Good with children Usually good
- Good with other dogs Careful introductions
Where these come from:
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type, country of origin and health notes
About the Boerboel
The Boerboel is a South African farm mastiff, built from local dogs crossed with imported European mastiff and bulldog types to guard homesteads and livestock in open country. It is a giant, heavily muscled breed of 56 to 69cm and 68 to 90.7kg, with a short dense coat and a broad, blocky head. Its character is confident and territorial, calm and affectionate with its own family, and unambiguous about the boundary of its property. It is rated poorly for tolerance of other pets.
Daily exercise is essential, long walks on the lead or play in a secure fenced area, along with mental work and time with its people. Dog parks are a bad idea and off lead freedom is not appropriate given the protective instinct. Grooming is simple, a weekly brush and the occasional bath. The critical piece is training and socialisation from puppyhood, handled by someone experienced, because a dog of this size and drive cannot be managed by force once it is grown.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Boerboel puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A giant breed puppy at eight weeks is already heavy and will keep growing for up to two years. Controlled growth matters more here than in any other size class, so a large breed specific puppy food and no overfeeding. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow evaluation of breeding stock
- Heart disease, screened by a cardiac exam on breeding stock
- Ectropion and entropion, eyelids that roll outward or inward, found on a veterinary eye exam and often needing surgery
- Bloat and gastric torsion, a surgical emergency in large deep chested dogs
From Boerboel breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/boerboel/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Boerboel puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Giant for a Boerboel.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 68 to 90.7 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other giant breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.